Quaker Valley greats gather for 2023 hall of fame induction weekend

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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The celebratory Sports Hall of Fame weekend returned to Quaker Valley this fall after a three-year pause due to the covid pandemic.

Six individuals and two teams were inducted on the weekend of Oct. 13-14, increasing the number of HOF individuals at Quaker Valley to 103 and HOF teams to 14.

The 2023 class was recognized at the Quakers’ home football game against West Mifflin. The Hall of Fame banquet took place the next day at Edgeworth Club.

This year’s class consists of Tabitha Bemis (track/gymnastics/diving), Dean Cvitkovic (football), Dr. Jeff Mulholland (contributor), Dr. Christa Rogers-Pettie (volleyball/basketball/track), Justin Shegog (basketball), Furman South (hockey), 1989 boys basketball team and 1993 boys soccer team.

QV athletic director Mike Mastroianni, who doubles as the floor boss for the boys basketball team, coached Shegog from 1996-2000.

Mastroianni said Shegog laid the foundation for success for the Quakers in the new millennium.

A 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Shegog was four-year starter, three-time all-state and four-time all-section selection. He was lauded as the Class AA Player of the Year in 1999.

Shegog led the Quakers to three section championships and their first WPIAL title in 1997, as well as to their first appearance in the state finals in 1999.

He is regarded as one of the best players ever to wear a Quaker Valley basketball jersey. He remains QV’s all-time leading scorer in boys basketball with 1,965 career points.

Now 41, Shegog lives in Cranberry Township where he works as an independent CDL truck driver. He is engaged to Tara Young and has two children, Mia, 15, and Justin Jr., 13.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend,” Shegog said. “Getting to meet the other athletes that I don’t know was fantastic. And I enjoyed how well put together the banquet at the Edgeworth Club was. It was really nice.

“What stuck out the most was Dean Cvitkovic. His story was absolutely fantastic. He’s a very successful man and very, very humble, as well.

“Jeff Gaca, who is now a doctor and a very successful one at that, had the microphone and was at a loss of words when given the chance to speak. It really says a lot about his character. He’s a very humble man. I love to see highly successful people who are humble. It’s awesome. It was a fantastic weekend and I really enjoyed it.”

Shegog concluded with the following comment: “Quaker Valley and the community as a whole is just a very special place.”

A 1974 graduate, Cvitkovic is considered one of the most accomplished football players in school history.

Now a Kentucky farmer, Cvitkovic, 67, competed in the football program for three years. He developed into a standout wide receiver and defensive back, eventually landing a full scholarship to Morehead State.

At Morehead State, Cvitkovic had a concentration in science as a physical education major and earned a master’s degree in education/physical education.

He later went on to coach at seven different high schools and became principal at three. He is owner and president of Triple C Farms and Red River Cattle Company, located in Clay City, Ky.

Alongside his wife of 42 years, Cindy, and son Tyler, a former Morehead State quarterback, the certified “Kentucky Proud” Cvitkovic family farms 1,700 acres of owned and leased land.

“The committee of (Mike) Mastroianni, (Jerry) Veshio, (Ken) Johns and (John) Munizza are to be commended for a Hall of Fame event that was well-organized and comparable to an upper-class gala,” Cvitkovic said. “Moreover, we are appreciative of the committee’s insightfulness to nominate myself without prejudice, recognizing accomplishments of a different path most wouldn’t. QVHS is delightfully different.

“Ms. Johns sat at our table (at the banquet) and it was a real treat. We had several family members and guests who were thoroughly impressed, as well.”

And Cvitkovic left us with, “It doesn’t matter where you start, but how you finish. Do your job and find a way; anything is possible.”

Rogers-Pettie was a three-sport marvel who continued her athletic career on scholarship at Morgan State and Alabama A&M.

She was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, basketball and track and field, and her high school career included section, WPIAL and PIAA recognition in all three sports.

Rogers-Pettie was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. She also was chosen as a WPIAL Scholar-Athlete in 2008.

Rogers-Pettie earned an electrical engineering degree at Alabama A&M then attended the University of Maryland, where she received a master’s degree in systems engineering and her doctorate in reliability engineering.

Now 33, Rogers-Pettie lives in Charles County, Md. She has a son, 5-year-old Carter, and works in the cyber security field.

“It was great to be surrounded by family and friends to celebrate the weekend,” she said. “I’m grateful that the Hall of Fame committee put so much care into planning and executing the festivities.

“The greatest part of the weekend was being able to share these amazing moments with my son. Most notably, it was extraordinary to have so many different generations (seven decades) of Quaker Valley athletes represented throughout the weekend.”

Bemis ranks as one of the all-time leading medal winners in WPIAL and PIAA history, winning 43 total medals — including 18 gold — in a sensational high school career.

Now a Slippery Rock resident, Bemis was an accomplished three-sport athlete as well as cheerleader from 2006-2010. She earned 14 varsity letters, including four in track and field and cheerleading and three in gymnastics and diving.

Bemis was recognized in the district as the Female Athlete of the Year in 2010.

At Edinboro, she was a six-time All-American, national qualifier (14 times), PSAC titlist (15 times), all-region selection (18 times) and all-conference honoree (26 times).

Bemis competed in the long jump, triple jump, sprints, hurdles, sprint relays and combined events at Edinboro. She broke 11 school records and was an Academic All-American.

The 31-year-old Bemis was hired in 2021 as a track and field/cross country assistant at Slippery Rock University, where she coaches the jumps and combined-event athletes.

“The Hall of Fame weekend was wonderful,” Bemis said. “It was incredibly nostalgic to be back at Chuck Knox Stadium on a Friday night and to hear the amazing stories of my fellow inductees at the banquet. I felt so much support from the Hall of Fame committee, my coaches, teachers, family, and friends throughout the weekend.

“I especially enjoyed celebrating with the people that played such an important role in my athletic career. I also enjoyed taking pictures with my teammate, Christa Rogers, and her older sister, Jasmine Rogers, in front of our names on the new track and field record boards at the entrance to the stadium.

“I want to thank the Hall of Fame committee and the Quaker Valley athletic department for their role in coordinating the festivities. I truly appreciate all the hard work that goes in to planning such a great event.”

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